Arise, arise Riders of Theoden! Fell deeds awake; fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered! A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Rise now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
A man almost relegated to a painful and slow lonely death was redeemed and now gloriously embraces the gift of death. For us Christians death is God's messenger telling us that it's time to go to our real home.
My now-wife had never seen LOTR until I dated her. After Theoden's epic speech in this scene she started crying. I paused it and asked her why she was crying and she replied that the riders were cheering death. They knew they were going to die but they were still making an an effort to destroy evil instead of preserving themselves and that was the most honorable thing they could do. Now I have two children with that woman. She's a keeper.
In the book, Tolkien states that following Minas Tirith's rescue by the Rohirim, Pippen can never again hear a horn without weeping. I think Jackson captured that sentiment brilliantly in the movie. When all is lost, suddenly that beautiful horn cuts through all other sounds, just like the Rohirim do to the orcs. The sound of it speaks to my soul in a really profound way.
Lord of the Rings was greatly influenced by Tolkien's service in the First World War. On one hand, the horror of the Western Front clearly scarred him, and formed the basis for his conception of Mordor and the Dead Marshes. At the same time, he had tremendous admiration for the men who fought. The ride of the Rohirrim is a loving tribute to the gallantry of his brothers in arms.
It is important to note, that Boromir was blowing his horn, while trying to protect Pippin and Merry, so he have another reason for a horn to do so much to him.
Yeah, but it's just strange that in the Foreword for Fellowship, he claimed that the trilogy is not an allegory of his experiences in the war when, in fact, it clearly is. @@timovangalen1589
100% The battle of Pelennor Fields in the books is beyond incredible, and aside from the charge of the Rohirrim the movie honestly doesn’t do it justice.
I like when King Turgon leads the Elves of Gondolin into battle at the Nerneath Arnoidiad and rescues the survivors of the disaster. J. R. R. Tolkein had an ability to write very vividly illustrative phrases without many words and that is one time where it really catches me. Pardon my bad spelling of things, since I am too lazy right now to google.
Not just in written fiction, this scene mirrors actual historical siege of Vienna and the arrival of the winged hussars, the largest cavalry charge in the entire human history. King Jan Sobiesky lead the charge personally and it happened truly in the last possible moment, the city had only few hours left as the walls were breached and the last defenders were barely keeping it against tens of thousands Ottoman soldiers. It was a decisive battle in the history of Europe, a turning point of European civilisation and for example to me as a Moravian (region north from Vienna) this was arguably the most significant battle in history of our region. Tolkien was influenced by several aspects of Moravian history and mythology and wrote them into the story. The winged hussars themselves felt like relics of the past, at that time they seemed outdated by at least two centuries, think how outdated a Napoleonic army or American revolutionary army would be today. Yet they had beaten the best Ottoman soldiers, Janissari elite army core. In the same way the Rohirim represent the old, traditional, while the Orcs represent a new system, a foreign expanding power that is incompatible and seen as only an incoming destructive force.
An enemy host shouting "Death!" is such a terrifying thing because it can mean two things: That they are ready to deliver death, and/or they are ready to accept it. An enemy with such a conviction is scary indeed.
I love this and thought exqactly the same thing, except not "and/or", just "and". It's as if in their fervor, death has all become one thing, whether they deliver it or die themselves in its delivery. It's an oath, a resolution: they are the storm that will crash down upon their foes and unleash fury.
The men who accepted death is more risky and more ferocius than men who want to live after battle - the decided ones wouldnt bother to block the strike or not to jump into enemy ranks full of spears, they just do it while the normal ones think how to hurt enemy without being wounded.
100% it's both. They're basically saying "we're probably all gonna die…but we're gonna take so many of you with us you'll wish you never set foot upon this field."
I think you have to be a man to understand how profound this line is. We stand on the shoulders of giants and the shame of inadequacy eternally plagues good men. To many of us the idea of dying proud and without shame, to be embraced by the heroes as an equal is a beautiful thought indeed.
Another thing that makes this scene great, is Peter put only the extras who had read the books and got the importance of this charge in front during the charge, all the extras they focus on were fans of the novel. That speaks volumes on peters priorities and it shows. You can feel the love for the novel and Tolkien in it.
I will do the same comment again. To quote CS Lewis in The Horse and His Boy: "A King must be first in every desperate attack, last in every desperate retreat and when there's hunger in the land to laugh louder over a scantier meal than any man in his kingdom." Theoden is this, he is what a king, a leader should be. He acts in spite of his fear, he is a great man, but a man nonetheless. This is Bravery, not fearlessness, but acting in spite of fear.
I was coming to say the same thing. The emotional punch of this scene comes from the characters being afraid. When Eowyn says to Merry “courage for our friends” she demonstrates that she is afraid but that she will face her fear, to not fail her friends. They ride knowing they might all die but they rode anyway shouting defiance to the odds and their fear.
Denethor and Theoden are leaders who lost their heir. One fell into despair while the other raised up to the task at hand. I love the contrast between the 2.
The contrast is much greater in the books even than the movies since in the movies Theoden is depicted as corrupted and possessed by saruman himself, which, in the books he is not. He is simply influenced by Grima and has lost hope, also being older than what the movies show him being. Gandalfs council and support has Theoden believe again after which he becomes a Paragon of Virtue, unlike the movies he doesn't struggle nearly as much, making him fit much more into the role of wise old king than flawed leader looking to redeem himself.@@ghyslainabel
@@ghyslainabel Had no idea that Denethor was actually a badass in the books until he lost his mind. He stared into the palantir and went toe-to-toe with Sauron in a battle of wills for years.
This scene resonates with us because it embraces two of the oldest tropes in history and fiction. The Doomed Last Stand and Facing Your Death Unafraid. This is the glorious battle that our ancestors fought throughout the generations. A cause worth dying for alongside your friends and companions. Even without the whole lore angle it is inherently inspiring because it speaks to us like the stories of our ancestors The change of the light brigade, the defenders of Malta, the ride of the Rohirm, all classic cases
I mean more commonly in the historical context it's actually just dying miserably (as in the case of various defeated armies) and being paraded by your enemies since they aren't happy to just smite you, but also mess with you during your in your last moments. The Lotr scene is just looking at things in a way more optimistic light
"The change of the light brigade, the defenders of Malta,..." Thanks for the Malta shout-out! Nearly forgotten today, as are THEODoric and his Goths vs Attila's Huns and the Poles at Vienna in 1683.
Personally, my favorite part of Theoden's speech before the charge is the part that seems most often overlooked: "Ride now! Ride now! Ride for Ruin, and the World's ending!" I get serious Ragnarok vibes from it, and it gives my inner Norseman chills every time I watch the movie.
That's Tolkien for you, he was a professor in the Old Norse tales, he even coined the term 'Northern courage' to describe the courage bordering recklessness in the face of insurmountable odds found in old Norse and old English tales, and he was a huge fan of it.
With that he seized a great horn from Guthlaf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. _ Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! _ Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Eomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first eored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was born up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Orome the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. ================================= ...Theoden was the real Epic one. Rather than a decrepit, old man (when we first met him), or as he is claimed by Saruman "..A lesser son of greater sires," His character arc reaches true fulfillment. ...And yet, even for a moment, he hesitated. For a moment, we were reminded that he was human. Just a human, before he rose to be a hero, a king, and a leader to his people. *He* was young again. For one last act to go out in a true blaze of glory. R.I.P. Theoden son of Thengel.
Beautifully put, that pause makes his courage all the greater, for he knows in that moment the price of not giving in to fear and the whispers of sorcerers. That is the price of breaking the spell and he rose to the occasion like a hero of old, like a god of old. I love that theme in Tolkien, the heroes were always lost to a bygone age, being brave now seemed so much harder, so much more futile and always seemingly in the face of much worse odds. It is such a truth and such an inspiration, Forth! ..and fear no darkness!
You know the guy is a badass when he's not compared to heroes of old in the old wars against Sauron, or even the War of Wrath, but to the Tolkien version of Thor charging into a battle of gods and immortals with power mortals have trouble comprehending at the dawn of the worlds creation.
My favourite parts of that scene: Every single second. It's beautiful. If I had to choose though I'd say: - The music, since the Rohirrim score is my absolute favourite in the whole trilogy and maybe one of my favourite movie tracks of all time. It simply captures everything: Hope, Sadness, impending doom and valor despite certain death. - Theoden's part in it, specifically the build-up in his story. Theoden is one of my favourite characters in LotR. He feels like a normal man, plagued by the same emotions and flaws that we all are. Gandalf, Aragorn and so on are these awesome larger-than-life heroes, you just know they will keep fighting and do the right thing in the end. But Theoden is one of the most complex characters. He had to go through a whole character arc. He despaired in the face of death, then was reminded to keep on fighting and never lose hope. Then he had to make the decision to help Gondor, knowing the odds are against them. Then he saw the orc army and knew they had basically no chance to win. But he *chose* to not give up anymore. To give his life to keep his people and the world safe, to focus on his honor and just say "Damn this all, let's just get on with it! Death!" Theoden *chose* to be a hero.
2:45 I love this part, about how death was a gift from Iluvatar but Melkor had worked hard to corrupt men’s understanding of it so that they feared death. But moments before they charge they chant “death” defiantly in the face of evil before they meet their fate. Very cool.
So true. The enemy often tempts us to fear, dislike, or otherwise reject the gifts we otherwise would’ve received with joy. As long as we have a calling to live we should joyfully receive that gift, but there are many gifts we tend to reject. The freedom to walk peacefully a step behind the Joneses is one such gift. Pop culture is a mine field and I’m happy letting my neighbors go first.
This adaptation is so deep because everything was informed by the books, even if not directly translated from them. The Rohirrim chant death because they are embacing holy purpose
Tolkien also said he noticed his writing was deeply influenced by his Catholic faith, so that could also be where his take on death being transformative for humans comes from
Something the video does not point out, though it's implied, is WHY, while the 'death' chant invigorates the Rohirrim, it demoralizes the orcs? It's BECAUSE they are twisted and corrupted by Melkor, through Sauron. Melkor corrupted the Gift of Illuvatar of Men (death) because he could not understand how it was a gift. (This is seen, oddly enough, directly analogically when Melkor varies the second theme of Illuvatar during the creation song of Arda, which is the theme of Men.) The Orcs DO--you could even say SHOULD--fear death.
The Rohan scenes starting with Aragorn announcing the beacon of Amon Din is lit to theodens death is the peak of emotion in the movie for me. Theoden is the perfect example of a normal, yet good, man. He is in my opinion the most human emotion-wise in the series. Rohan shall answer. The charge of the Rohirrim. His final words. All beautiful and differently emotional. Rage, courage, fear, hope, serenity. All of it. Man it works me up thinking about it all combined.
My family used to watch the lord of the rings trilogy every year, and I often didn’t want to watch ROTK because it felt so hopeless and dark, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized it is an incredibly hopeful movie. Every time the characters are brought to the brink of despair something comes along to help them. When Frodo is captured, Sam comes to his rescue, when all hope seems lost in the battle of Gondor, the Rohirrim crest the battlefield to join the fight. The movie does an incredible job of giving the audience the hope they need for the characters right as the characters troubles seem unsermountable, and it really is a credit to how great of an author Tolkien was
You have to give credit to Peter Jackson and his crew. Talk about a daunting task to bring these books to film and this scene shows how great a job they did.
That hope is crushed again a few minutes latter in the charge of the Oliphants -- and then reborn as the riders find a way to fight and Aragorn arrives.
Precisely. I remember vividly when I saw this movie in theaters, that at the end I concluded its main theme was hope. This is a story of hope and love!
Nobody seems to take any notice of how great Bernard Hill was in these movies, The battle speech before the ride of the Rohirrum delivered by Bernard is one of my very favourite scenes in movies, Bernard was also great as Yosser Hughes in a show called The Boys From The Blackstuff that is quite an old show now but was just great and only Brits would know about that.
Best scene, without a doubt. I love how it completes Theoden’s transformation from enslaved and weak-minded to courageous and free, from a follower to a great leader. It shows the pinnacle of one’s freedom from enslavement by those like Grima is not a freedom from danger, but rather to go into it with head held high.
It’s an interesting contrast with Denethor. The two have almost mirrored paths. Denethor led the defense of Gondor and much of the west for decades. The movies don’t really show it, but he was a strong leader. But he trusted too much in his own abilities both as leader of Gondor and as a use of the palantir. He refused the counsel of Gandalf, and was deceived by Sauron through the palantir. In the end he fell into despair, abandoned his responsibilities to his people, and took his own life and almost that of his son. Theoden spent much of his life failing in his duties as king and letting Saruman weaken his kingdom from both inside and out. But he listens to Gandalf, repents, throws off the deceptions of Saruman and defeats his forces in battle. He then leads his riders to Gondor where he dies valiantly fighting to protect his family, his people, and all the free peoples.
There is another scene earlier which shows who Theoden truly is, though: The battle with the warg riders. In that fight, and indeed throughout the evacuation to Helm's Deep, he's also leading firmly from the front, and unlike at the Plains of Pelenor is without his armor and with a much smaller host of men, and still knows and carries out his duty, completely succeeding in protecting the civilians in his care. He didn't need Aragorn to tell him what to do then, he just did it.
I’ve never been able to watch this scene without tearing up. It’s like Rohan is saying “ok, you want to kill the world of men? Fine! Here we are…ALL of us… let’s do this…” as they ride to meet their fair head on. It’s beautiful!
@@rangerstedfastTo even mention that consumer riddled filth is an insult to true creativity and art. This ain't some "Avengers Assemble" crap. This is the ride of the Rohirim motherfucker.
Oddly enough, part of the speech Theoden gives to inspire his army is transposed from another character. In the novel, Eomer, finding Theoden dead and his sister Eowyn mortally wounded (during a pause in the battle) cries out for "Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!" Peter Jackson and his co-writers must have thought that worked better at the end of Theoden's speech, most of which was given just as the Rohirrim arrive at Pelennor Fields, but no matter. Eomer's anguished cry rallies them, and they are then calling out for death, to mete out death and face it bravely themselves.
@@ianchristian2844 Exactamente. Jackson's completely different use of the Oathbreakers--bringing them by corsair ships to Pelennor to *fight*--was also brilliant. I wish Tolkien had thought of using them that way. It freaking rocked!
I remember in the book it explicitly states that the Riders, as they charged into battle, burst into song and “Sang as they Slew”. I realize the scene would have been near impossible to shoot but it gives me shivers whenever I read that passage.
As humans to kill is such an emotionally involved thing to do. To sing when charging into battle to me says that in their very bones they know that what they are doing is necessary and good. Their purpose holds more prominence then their action.
"To be brave is not to be without fear, but to act in spite of it." I don't know who said that, or where I heard it, but it has stayed with me. And when I see the Charge of the Rohirrim, I remember that line, always.
"Courage is being scared as hell but saddling up anyway." John Wayne, presumably. I think that sentiment and truth has been spoken in many ways throughout history
I love what you said about fantasy and fiction. We don't want it to reflect our world. We want it to inspire us, lift us, and give us hope that somehow, we can be better than we are. And our future can be brighter than it is now.
This is also the first time in the trilogy that the Rohirrim theme is played in its completion, everything was leading to this moment. Always a guaranteed watch when someone talks about this scene
Just watched the extended remastered trilogy in the cinema. Was easily the greatest cinema experience I have ever had. 'What do you fear my lady?'. Utter brilliance.
When the crescendo reaches its height and the Rohirrim theme gets onto full swing I get the goosebumbs every time. I’ve watched the trilogy atleast 50 times and it is such a momentuos occasion every time. Edit: works without music too, got goosebumbs watching this vid at the moment they start charging.
In the movies, you could surmise Aragorn was coming with the unkillable Dead Army anyway, so they were going to win in the end regardless. In the books it's even more epic, because Aragorn does NOT come with the Dead, he just uses them to free up the South. So literally all would be lost without the Ride of the Rohirrim, which was inspired by the greatest cavalry charge in history, the Winged Hussars at the Battle of Vienna.
Not only that breaking of the Siege of Vienna (that you correctly recognize), Sir, but also by the defeat of Attila and his Huns in the Battle of Catalaunian Plains 451AD at the hands of combined arms of Visigoths and Romans. The inspiration can vividly be seen in both the contrast of allied armies (one an ancient Empire, but declined from its martial peak, while the other more barbarous and 'younger', yet more vitalistic and ferocious) and some actual events: in both real and fiction one, the king dies and his successor is shouted new king _in situ_ during battle. Tolkien often used this mix of two or more real historical events or developments in order to create something completely new while also somewhat recognizable for an educated reader. This way he could create a legendarium not only for England (his stated goal), but for whole of the West. By this extension we all are invited by him to reading, imagining more by ourselves and perhaps contributing something more on or beside his work; a way of _subcreation,_ as he himself put it.
Théoden's speech was incredible. It was barely even a speech, it was just his confidence made into noise. His inspiring words and his shouting turned fear into bravery simply by telling them that their spears will break and shields will splinter, then he just fuckin yells and everyone is on board. He told them they're gonna die, but made that comment into something to be proud of rather than something to fear. Comparing to Aragorn's amazing speech at the black gate, I still think Théoden's speech had a greater impact.
This scene always makes me cry of pure catharsis. The whole battle of the Pelennor fields is a masterpiece and I love it much more than the battle of Helm's deep. There is this amazing scene, followed by a similar when they reform the line to meet the mumakils head on, and then the passing of Théoden. That is an other cry worthy scene. I love Théoden so much!
I can attest that Theoden's resolve in shouting 'reform the line... reform the line' was one of the most impactful parts of watching this in the cinema yesterday.
I think Jackson’s choice to add Faramir’s failed charge is important when viewing this scene. It shows the lethality of the orc volleys and really shows just how valiant this charge is.
A little like Pickett's charge, although Pickett's charge was doomed (and in my thoughts a mistake), the immense courage shown is awe inspiring-I have stood behind the stone wall where the Union line was, and the feeling was beyond description.
@@davidwilliam9681Or the charge of the MN 1st filling the gap in the line. 300 vs 1,000s charging out of the smoke, out numbered, out gunned and yet halted the enemy's advance and gave their lives to buy five minutes to reform the line. "Colonel, see those colors? Take them."
One of the best moments from the book isn’t in the film. Eomer looks out on the black ships and believes it’s over. There is an excellent passage where he comes to terms with it and raises his sword to defy them. My favorite Tolkien passage.
Stern now was Éomer's mood, and his mind clear again. He let blow the horns to rally all men to his banner that could come thither; for he thought to make a great shield-wall at the last, and stand, and fight there on foot till all fell, and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor, though no man should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark. So he rode to a green hillock and there set his banner, and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind. "Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!" These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed, and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them. Epic beyond words. What a gift Tolkien had
The death of Boromir and the coronation of Aragorn are two other scene that tears me up. "I would have followed you, my brother; my captain; my king."😢 "My friends. You bow to no one." 😢
"For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City."
Seeing this rereleased in theaters was the most epic and inspiring scene to ever grace the screen. You could feel the hoofs hitting the ground, pounding as if your heart. It was beautiful and if there was any movie I would watch again for the first time, it would be this.
There were only 60 actual horses w/ riders, but Jackson has said he and his crew were all stunned the first time a charge was filmed. The earth shook under their feet and filled their ears. Only 60. The great charge of the West against the East at Vienna involved 5,000 horses and riders. The only critique of this commentary I can mention is Master Samwise failed to mention the courage of the horses as well, the love between each horse and its rider.
The Ride of the Rohirrim alone justifies seeing ROTK in a theater. I missed an IMAX reshowing of the trilogy in 2021, but I caught a reshowing in 2022.
The fact that Tolkien took inspiration from the The Winged Hussars when he created the Rohirrim and the Battle of Vienna (1683) when he created the Battle for Helms Deep and Pelennor Fields makes it all the more epic in my eyes at least. 😄
Not only that famous siege of Vienna (though the arrival of Théoden's army certainly takes after that), but also the Battle of Catalaunian Plains 451AD, where Huns led by Attila were defeated by Romans led by patrician Aetius and Visigoths led by their king Theodoric. In that battle not only the nature of allied armies matched that on Pelennor fields (one an ancient Empire, but declined from its martial peak, while the other more barbarous and 'younger', yet more vitalistic and ferocious) but real events as well: Theodoric, leading a cavalry charge, fell during the battle and his son Thorismund was shouted new king while the battle still lasted! Tolkien often used this mix of two or more real historical events or developments in order to create something completely new while also somewhat recognizable for an educated reader. This way he could create a legendarium not only for England (his stated goal), but for whole of the West. By this extension we all are invited by him to reading, imagining more by ourselves and perhaps contributing something more on or beside his work; a way of _subcreation,_ as he himself put it.
No he didn't; if the charge of the Rohirrim is based on any real-world event, it's the Gothic charge at the Battle of Chalons in 451 AD, which defeated Attila's Huns and saved the West. Also the Gothic king died during the charge, much as Theoden did. You have Goths = Rohirrim and Rome = Gondor. Why would Tolkien bother with a trivial battle at the other end of Europe?
I’ve always loved how theoden leveraged death not the death of the enemy but the death of themselves, he turns their fear of death into their driver, death is what pushes them into the battle not victory, they ride for the end of all things
Theoden is my favorite character in LOTR books and movies. He knew before he left to go to Gondor that he had too few men. Yet he went anyway. They arrived at the darkest hour, when needed most. This scene by far the best in the movie and in the book.
Theoden is a great man, because he retained a certain humility. Hence when he dies and says "i go now to the halls of my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now be ashamed"
The Ride of the Rohirrim makes me tear up in all it's forms, book, film and especially J.R.R. Tolkien reading it. The passion in his voice when he reads it is inspiring.
*To this day…with my speakers on FULL BLAST. I STILL get goosebumps and tear up watching this scene. All hope seems lost and even in the face of certain death…these men rode to their destiny! Not to mention the absolutely PERFECT symphony composed by Howard Shore. Truly one of the most amazing scenes in cinematic history, I’m tearing up just thinking about it now.🙏🏼😭*
It's also the horses, horses add an element of bravery and goodness and just epicness that can't be obtained otherwise. Horses combine kindness, beauty and force like no other creature can. The perfect contrast with the evil of Mordor. The whole scene is just stunning. The Rohirrim stand for hope and human resilience, they are not superhuman so recognizable. They show the best of human nature. An example to admire even if its fantasy.
That Horn of Rohan blast ALWAYS sends chills down my spine!! Plus, Eowyn was destined to fulfil a part of the Prophecy about the Witch-King of Angmar!!
Yes for the firts part of your comment, on could argue about the second part: She singlehandedly (😉) killed the witchking, yes and that is one of the greatest deads, no discussion about that. But the prophecy basically was fulfilled by Merry. Iirc it was "not by the hand of men will he fall". And Merry as a Hobbit stuck his blade into the back of the witchkings knee and made him "fall" on his knees. He and his blade from the barrow broke the spell and made it possible for someone of mankind to kill him.
@@nirfz I think you're both right. A character falling is often used to describe death in Tolkien's works, and prophecies such as this one are often both vague and literal at the same time. So, "Not by the hand of man will he fall" likely refers to both Merry striking him to his knees and Eowyn killing him. I believe it even says as much in one of the appendixes.
All three of you are right -- but you are also forgetting one of the sources. Tolkien loved him some Shakespeare. In Macbeth, MacB blvs he's invincible in battle, bcs "none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth." Macduff, who had a caesarean origin, was the loophole...
Having read the books well before the movies this was the moment that I looked forward to the most. When I first heard Howard Shore's Rohan motif/theme in The Two Towers, it gave me all sorts of feels. And when this moment came, it did not disappoint.
One disappointing thing about the music here was that it covered the blowing of the horns. But that was soon followed by an outstanding decision about how to handle Rohan's musical theme for this scene. Going by the usual pattern of how a theme takes different forms for different scenes, you'd expect to hear it in this scene in a thunderous bombastic form with blaring brass horns, and it does get there, but, at the beginning of the charge when they just get started moving, it's in its original subdued form as a fiddle solo again. It's a reminder of what they left behind at home to be here helping their neighbors instead, and that this heroism was something they all had to build themselves up to.
Same. And i was glad when they included the horn sound that startled the Witchking. While i find it a little sad that they didn't include Ghan Buri Ghan and his people who brought them through the woods unseen and around Mordors guard at the road i can easily forgive that for the way they portrait them with the light in their back comming over the crest, the speech and the great acting.
To me, there is only one scene in Lord of the Rings that can match this and/or surpass it. That would be Sam's speech about the great stories. That scene is so powerful. You see two hobbits at the end of their rope losing hope, but reflect on the stories of old, and thinking back to the heroes who stood against the darkness. Even though there was no telling of what would happen. Then Sam utters those beautiful words that I quote to myself when I'm in a dark place. " A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stores that stay with you. That means something even if you were too small to understand why."
Watched this the other day and now I'm sobbing again. I love that scene, especially where they show the ents destroying isengard while Sam is speaking. And the last march of the ends comes just before that scene. Those 3 scenes: the march of the ents, gandalf and eomer returning to helms deep, and sams speech all in succession gets me sobbing every time.
I enjoyed the contrast between this scene and the two earlier ones (a) when Saruman addresses Sauron and discusses the union of the two towers, and (b) when Theoden is musing while putting on his battle armor. Three epic monologues in one movie!
Whether in the book, or in the movie, truly one of the great moments in all of story telling. Great literature shows us the best, and worst, we can be. The greatest theme in The Lord Of The Rings is that each one must stand up and do their part in the fight for good, no matter how hopeless it seems.
In Tolkien's world, there is a specific purpose for men. Elves and even the Valar don't know Illuvitar's will and special purpose he has reserved for the souls of men.
Just for anyone that hasn't read the books yet, no enemy ever enters Minas Tirith. The Witch King steps into the entryway, and is confronted by Gandalf upon Shadowfax. Gandalf and the Witch King do not have any kind of combat in the books. They exchange words, then the horn of Gondor sounds and the Witch King flees from Gandalf. Gandalf is a Maiar, he would stomp the Witch King in an actual fight.
I have to admit that I almost cried near the end of this video. It's such a powerful scene and has such potent symbolism. I firmly agree with you that this is the absolute apex of cinnematic history in terms of inspiring moments and will go down as a classic for the ages. I've never seen anything that hits the same way since and with the state of modern Hollywood I never will again, but thats fine because we have this perfect transcendent moment that perfectly captures and enhances the original literary work. This is Tolkien at its finest.
i've watched the return of the king half a dozen times or so over the last 20 years and whether as a nerdy kid back then or as a grizzled old cynic now, i could never keep myself from sweating from the eyes to the ride of the rohirrim.
This is perhaps the greatest scene of its kind -- but it is a member of a small, elite club, not a singleton on its own. That said, it still sends a shiver down my spine, and I can easily watch it multiple times in a row without losing my sense of awe and amazement.
Theoden’s grunt / muffled “hyah” to his horse before he calls out “Take your Èored down the left flank” is beyond perfection. Just a moment of us focusing on Theoden making the decision to shove away personal fear in order to be the king he needs to be for the fate of man. And then in an instant he is just that 👌
As a life long Tolkien-file it was with great joy and amazement to witness the ride of the Rohirrim into battle. The digital expertise of Jacksons recreation of the battle of Palenor field brought to visual life what Tolkien had intended. And that wasn't the only time in the movie. Nearly the entire movie was replete with the recreation of his books. Peter Jackson, thank you for your vision and boundless energy; it is a seminal work.
One of the only scenes I would rank up this in cinematic history is the "La Marseillaise" scene from Casablanca, and in its own way it pulls at the same emotions as the Ride of the Rohirrim.
For anyone like me who had never read the books before seeing the films...this moment, when all hope seemed lost, two levels of Minas Tirith on fire, the strength of Men failing, Gandalf looking up in fear at the faceless depth of the Witch-King...sharply interrupted by the clear, uplifting blare of a horn, the light of the sun breaking at the edges of the clouds, and a horizon of horse and man cresting the hill...it brought more than hope; it was salvation. I felt what I imagine the defenders of Minas Tirith felt exponentially more. You do not exaggerate by claiming this as the greatest moment in cinematic history, and I appreciate the context you being to this moment. Excellent video! Good enough to compel me to subscribe. 😉
You have perfectly summarized this scene, and the reasons it is so meaningful and powerful. I watch this scene a lot, precisely because it is inspiring in the face of overwhelming odds. Thanks.
I agree, the greatest scene in movie history. And 20 years later still holds strong. Even though his words are few, Hill delivers one of the greatest and most inspiring lines ever in a movie. It’s a beautiful scene.
This scene defines epic. It's one of the two in the movie (perhaps even the whole trilogy) that will always captivate me and have me hold my breath ; the other on being that moment toward the end when Frodo and Sam have both collapsed from exhaustion at the foot of Mount Doom and Frodo attempts to gather whatever strength he has left to keep crawling forward, highlighted by a simple yet beautiful score.
You've probably already seen it, but if you haven't, watch How Howard Shore Makes Us Care by ListeningIn. Beautiful explanation of some of the key moments of LotR's score.
Something I've always loved about this scene that you touched on a little bit is the sounds of it all. The chanting of Orc, the cheers of 'death', the thundours sound of horn and hoof, and the sound of the clash where all glory is removed and the devastating sounds of pain and death are all we hear. This scene offers so much.
Do what you have to, not what you want. Do the right thing, not the smart thing. It was the greatest lesson in my life and i think it was this scene that taught me that.
I first read LOTR in college in the early 70's. On a slow Saturday (homework done, no home ball game to attend) I had plenty of time to read. When I got to the charge of the Rohirrim, I could not put the book down. I had chills reading that part. To their credit the filmmakers captured that feeling and put on screen what I had only seen in my imagination.
Perfectly explained.. It's indeed one I always get shivers from, also the one and only time where I feel the reinforcements of the 'good side' is just epic, complete in its essence, beauty and virtues and inspiring on so many fronts. Thank you for this beautiful video!
It's such a beautiful scene because it embodies the spirit of men. To face a certain death head on to try to protect the things you love. It's in all men, this primal feeling of protecting it fills you with intense emotion and you feel invicible. This scene is a masterclass.
"And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City." An amazing scene of cinema, from the greatest work of literature of the 20th century.
Totally Agree! From the first time I read of this scene in the Return of the King book, I envisioned it to be one of the most glorious cavalry charges in verse or history. I am forever grateful to Peter Jackson, the actors, and Howard Shore for creating THE MOST EPIC scene in literary, movie, and actual history! I have watched this charge two to three dozen times ... and it still gives me goosebumps. I love it!
Genuinely made me *more* emotional than I usually get with this scene, which I didn't think was possible. You lent so much power and meaning to what was happening beyond the already brain-melting epicness. As a life-long fan of LOTR, bravo.
Well done with the narration.. a perfect scene. It is a good day to die. So like being a Viking There will never be a moment like this in cinema ever again.
7:00 I think the only thing to truly compete with this is Aragorns "for Frodo" before running towards the black gate not even caring if someone is following him ... and the first to follow him being Merry and Pippin
The first time I watched this in the cinema, when the film was brand new and I didn't know what I was in for, I remember goosebumps at first. I mean ... I had read the books several times. I knew it was coming. I KNEW it would happen, but when Gandalf's staff bursts, and the Nazgul is so close to him there seems to be no hope, I did have that one ... tiny little moment of "They're not coming. They're not going to make it". I knew it wasn't like that, of course, but that split second of doubt was there, anyway. And then the horn sounded, and I felt this overwhelming, palpable sense of deep, deep relief. I'm a historian ... I've got a master's degree in it. I've read so many descriptions of great charges, so many histories of battles over the years that honestly, I think most people would be staggered by it. At the time the movie came out, I was at university, studying for this degree, and I was deeply engrossed in stacks of books so high you couldn't see me behind them when I got to work. I thought I had a good sense ... like a gut feeling ... of what a massed cavalry charge would be like. I thought I understood. I thought I could see it for my mind's eye, up until that point. I knew of the charge at the gates of Vienna, I knew of the charges in so many battles during the Wars of the Roses, the Crusades, the Hunnic invasions, the Mongol Storm, the armies of Temur Lenk, the war of Scottish Independence, the Thirty Year's War, the charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo, Ney's insanely brave and completely futile countercharge against the allied squares at the same battle, Alexander's charge through the Persian lines towards Darius at Gaugamela ... all of this and more, and I really, really thought I KNEW what this would have looked like. And then the Rohirrim arrived. And I understood that I had no idea what the force of thousands of horses at a full gallop would be like. How UTTERLY terrifying it would be to face it down, even if you were armed with a long spear or a pike. I actually understood why the orcs panicked. It would've been enough to make practically anyone lose their nerve. In truth, to this day, I do not fully understand how anyone in history has had the courage to face down something that absolutely terrifying. The way the charge naturally forms into a wedge, following Theoden. The fact that the majority of the kills made, at least at first, are not made by swords, axes, spears or lances, but simply by the massive impact of a nearly five hundred kilos of warhorse crashing into you at a gallop. It is astonishing, it's terrifying, it's absolutely GORGEOUS ... it's terrifying. I wept when I saw it the first time. I wept because it was so incredibly well portrayed. I have a deep-seated aversion to "historic movies" because for some bizarre reason, every movie-maker in the world seems to think that history is boring and needs to be improved upon and changed before it will make a good film. I hate how they massacre everything and tell fantasy stories under the guise of "creative license", while portraying it as truth. Thereby making my job as a historian a lot harder, because way, way too many people DO NOT possess the critical thinking-skills to understand that what they see in monstrosities like "Gladiator" or, gods help it, "King Arthur" (which starts with the words "this is the true story", only to proceed into complete lala-land), is pure fiction with absolutely zero basis in reality. And yet, there I was, watching a fantasy epic, and the director got it right. It's never been topped. I sincerely doubt it ever will be. Every single aspect of this scene is as close to real magic as I think we'll ever get on the silver screen. Bernard Hill passed away only a scant few days ago. He played many, many outstanding parts in his time, but I think his career will be forever defined by Theoden, and with a scene like this, ending in the heartbreak of his death ... I don't know if an actor can gain greater glory than that. I doubt it. I watch this scene at least a few times every year, and to this day, it always brings a lump to my throat and it always makes me weep. Because they got it right. Westu Theodén Hál.
Just here to add my tears to the ever growing pool. I saw Return of the King in theaters on my 13th birthday and it broke my brain. This scene was the first time I cried at a movie in theaters. So good.
On top of all this that is mentioned, it also shows how deep the bond between horse and rider runs, that they would both trust each other enough to charge into battle and danger and death. I am a horse person and because I know this bond on top of everything else you just mentioned, I bawl my eyes out every. single. time.
I agree 1000% I watched hundreds of movies over the years few pump me up or excite me as much as this, but even then they still don't match the sheer scale and beauty of this scene and the music is the very definition of epic, it never fails to given me chills no matter how many times I re-watch this scene, especially when the Rohirrim shout "DEATH!" Goosebumps ever time
Every time I hear that shout, it makes me want to join in the shout. And the charge always seems to put the fury of battle in me. It was such a powerful and amazing scene and honestly my favorite scene of the whole movie, even over the last stand at the black gate.
I love Theoden. He does what he knows is right, and what he needs to do, and he's willing to accept that this may cost him his life, and that it is better to die than to be alive with the compromised ethos.
Such a great philosophical reflection and review of one the greatest scenes in cinematic history and probably my favorite scene of all time. I've watched it so many times and it has never lost it's power to me. The line "The Rohirrim will ride...Into the end of all things" just invokes so much emotion in me. Many other movies have similar scenes but none seem to have had the same power to me. As an example, the Avengers Assemble at the final battle in End Game was great, but it just doesn't have the same effect on me. They were all individual super beings, where the Rohirrim, while battle hardened and brave, are but men. Death has a more profound effect and consequence for them. This scene is so powerful because of everything that was said in this video. Seriously, well done.
Finding this video after Bernard Hill's death makes it that much more intense. Finding myself crying through the whole video. Wow! His face needs no words. He was an incredible actor in every sense of the word.
Arise, arise Riders of Theoden!
Fell deeds awake; fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered!
A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Rise now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Fucking beautiful man 🥺❤
DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAATH
Cry Havok and Let slip the Dogs of War!!!
Epic!!!
Exactly as Tolkien wrote it, line for line.
Greatest scene in cinematic history. Not to sound lame but literally brings me to tears every time i see it.
I can't watch it without tearing up. It's a masterpiece, plain and simple.
I take comfort in knowing I am in good company as I too tear up watching this scene
same
My hope is that every person finds something in life that can move them in such a way.
Not lame at all mate, it does the same for me, it touches emotions within me, deep within my human core
I teared when Theoden said "I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed."
What a man.
Same here. God, it's such a moment
A man almost relegated to a painful and slow lonely death was redeemed and now gloriously embraces the gift of death.
For us Christians death is God's messenger telling us that it's time to go to our real home.
He proved Saruman wrong, when the wizard called him a "lesser king".
As of five days ago, Bernard Hill went to his fathers, in whose mighty company he shall not now feel ashamed.
@@perfesser944 Rest well, old warrior. You have earned it o7
Gamling: "Too few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor."
Theoden: "No we cannot. But we will meet them in battle nonetheless."
Steel fills your bones at that scene, whether or not you understand why. High is the call, and deep is the answer.
@@stephenlaing2152did you watch the films lol
@@stephenlaing2152you should watch it before claiming something untrue
So lucky that we have also the ones who dwell in the mountain....
@@jzsbff4801it’s fantasy
My now-wife had never seen LOTR until I dated her. After Theoden's epic speech in this scene she started crying. I paused it and asked her why she was crying and she replied that the riders were cheering death. They knew they were going to die but they were still making an an effort to destroy evil instead of preserving themselves and that was the most honorable thing they could do. Now I have two children with that woman. She's a keeper.
I'd laugh and cried when I read ur post, dude. I really hope u and ur family are doing great together! U really deserve it
I hope god's gift of fertility bless you, may you and your offspring inherit
god's earth
Your comment pulled a tear out of my eye. There seems to still be wisdom upon the Earth.
You have two Rohirrims
YES. YES. YES.
In the book, Tolkien states that following Minas Tirith's rescue by the Rohirim, Pippen can never again hear a horn without weeping. I think Jackson captured that sentiment brilliantly in the movie. When all is lost, suddenly that beautiful horn cuts through all other sounds, just like the Rohirim do to the orcs. The sound of it speaks to my soul in a really profound way.
Lord of the Rings was greatly influenced by Tolkien's service in the First World War. On one hand, the horror of the Western Front clearly scarred him, and formed the basis for his conception of Mordor and the Dead Marshes. At the same time, he had tremendous admiration for the men who fought. The ride of the Rohirrim is a loving tribute to the gallantry of his brothers in arms.
It is important to note, that Boromir was blowing his horn, while trying to protect Pippin and Merry, so he have another reason for a horn to do so much to him.
Yeah, but it's just strange that in the Foreword for Fellowship, he claimed that the trilogy is not an allegory of his experiences in the war when, in fact, it clearly is. @@timovangalen1589
This scene will never not give me goosebumps.
20 years later, and it still does.
Yes Indeed… I have them even now… Just watching a video Talking about this Scene… Perfect time to go watch the Full Scene.
Cheers!
I was like.....HEY hey hey, 20 years? cmon my dude... then... fuck.
I was 10 when I seen this scene in theaters. Goosebump doesn’t describe what I felt at that moment as a 10year old.
They say this is one of the longest movies ever. But I that's mostly because of how many times I rewind to watch this scene when it's on 😂
The scene in the book is also arguably one of the greatest scenes in written fiction.
100% The battle of Pelennor Fields in the books is beyond incredible, and aside from the charge of the Rohirrim the movie honestly doesn’t do it justice.
@Master Samwise Yeah I agree.
The Senate agrees with you chancellor
I like when King Turgon leads the Elves of Gondolin into battle at the Nerneath Arnoidiad and rescues the survivors of the disaster. J. R. R. Tolkein had an ability to write very vividly illustrative phrases without many words and that is one time where it really catches me. Pardon my bad spelling of things, since I am too lazy right now to google.
Not just in written fiction, this scene mirrors actual historical siege of Vienna and the arrival of the winged hussars, the largest cavalry charge in the entire human history. King Jan Sobiesky lead the charge personally and it happened truly in the last possible moment, the city had only few hours left as the walls were breached and the last defenders were barely keeping it against tens of thousands Ottoman soldiers.
It was a decisive battle in the history of Europe, a turning point of European civilisation and for example to me as a Moravian (region north from Vienna) this was arguably the most significant battle in history of our region. Tolkien was influenced by several aspects of Moravian history and mythology and wrote them into the story.
The winged hussars themselves felt like relics of the past, at that time they seemed outdated by at least two centuries, think how outdated a Napoleonic army or American revolutionary army would be today. Yet they had beaten the best Ottoman soldiers, Janissari elite army core. In the same way the Rohirim represent the old, traditional, while the Orcs represent a new system, a foreign expanding power that is incompatible and seen as only an incoming destructive force.
An enemy host shouting "Death!" is such a terrifying thing because it can mean two things: That they are ready to deliver death, and/or they are ready to accept it. An enemy with such a conviction is scary indeed.
I love this and thought exqactly the same thing, except not "and/or", just "and". It's as if in their fervor, death has all become one thing, whether they deliver it or die themselves in its delivery. It's an oath, a resolution: they are the storm that will crash down upon their foes and unleash fury.
The men who accepted death is more risky and more ferocius than men who want to live after battle - the decided ones wouldnt bother to block the strike or not to jump into enemy ranks full of spears, they just do it while the normal ones think how to hurt enemy without being wounded.
That's why USA dropped the Nukes on Japan.
That is like giving the middle finger to morgoth
100% it's both. They're basically saying "we're probably all gonna die…but we're gonna take so many of you with us you'll wish you never set foot upon this field."
So good! Brings me to tears every time. So does “I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company, I shall not now feel ashamed” 😢
Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear this line
A line of fiction, but one worth living up to nonetheless.
Yup, that leaves me a blubbering mess every time!❤
Me too buddy….me too. I saw rotk in theaters 10 times when it came out and every damn time was just the most incredible experience.
I think you have to be a man to understand how profound this line is. We stand on the shoulders of giants and the shame of inadequacy eternally plagues good men. To many of us the idea of dying proud and without shame, to be embraced by the heroes as an equal is a beautiful thought indeed.
Another thing that makes this scene great, is Peter put only the extras who had read the books and got the importance of this charge in front during the charge, all the extras they focus on were fans of the novel. That speaks volumes on peters priorities and it shows. You can feel the love for the novel and Tolkien in it.
Which is why all the extras we see face shots of look like they're genuinely ready to die.
I will do the same comment again. To quote CS Lewis in The Horse and His Boy:
"A King must be first in every desperate attack, last in every desperate retreat and when there's hunger in the land to laugh louder over a scantier meal than any man in his kingdom."
Theoden is this, he is what a king, a leader should be. He acts in spite of his fear, he is a great man, but a man nonetheless. This is Bravery, not fearlessness, but acting in spite of fear.
Fear is born from hope. The man who fights without fear is a man who fights without hope.
So, you are right: This is bravery, not fearlessness.
I was coming to say the same thing. The emotional punch of this scene comes from the characters being afraid. When Eowyn says to Merry “courage for our friends” she demonstrates that she is afraid but that she will face her fear, to not fail her friends.
They ride knowing they might all die but they rode anyway shouting defiance to the odds and their fear.
...last in every desperate retreat...
@@rickwilson7282 well, it has once again been proven that I can't proofread my own stuff, thanks! 😅
Theoden's character arc is, in my opinion, the most compelling arc in the entire story. Hands down, my favorite character in the movies.
Denethor and Theoden are leaders who lost their heir. One fell into despair while the other raised up to the task at hand. I love the contrast between the 2.
The contrast is much greater in the books even than the movies since in the movies Theoden is depicted as corrupted and possessed by saruman himself, which, in the books he is not. He is simply influenced by Grima and has lost hope, also being older than what the movies show him being. Gandalfs council and support has Theoden believe again after which he becomes a Paragon of Virtue, unlike the movies he doesn't struggle nearly as much, making him fit much more into the role of wise old king than flawed leader looking to redeem himself.@@ghyslainabel
@@ghyslainabel Had no idea that Denethor was actually a badass in the books until he lost his mind. He stared into the palantir and went toe-to-toe with Sauron in a battle of wills for years.
The ride of the Rohirrim epitomize the humanity’s willingess to fight in this cruel world.
damn, is this a AoT reference?
This scene resonates with us because it embraces two of the oldest tropes in history and fiction. The Doomed Last Stand and Facing Your Death Unafraid. This is the glorious battle that our ancestors fought throughout the generations. A cause worth dying for alongside your friends and companions. Even without the whole lore angle it is inherently inspiring because it speaks to us like the stories of our ancestors The change of the light brigade, the defenders of Malta, the ride of the Rohirm, all classic cases
I mean more commonly in the historical context it's actually just dying miserably (as in the case of various defeated armies) and being paraded by your enemies since they aren't happy to just smite you, but also mess with you during your in your last moments. The Lotr scene is just looking at things in a way more optimistic light
... and the landing at Normandy.
"The change of the light brigade, the defenders of Malta,..."
Thanks for the Malta shout-out! Nearly forgotten today, as are THEODoric and his Goths vs Attila's Huns and the Poles at Vienna in 1683.
@@SEKreiverthe battle of Vienna 1683 might be the most important battle in European history
Remember The Alamo!
Personally, my favorite part of Theoden's speech before the charge is the part that seems most often overlooked: "Ride now! Ride now! Ride for Ruin, and the World's ending!" I get serious Ragnarok vibes from it, and it gives my inner Norseman chills every time I watch the movie.
Me too! Those are some of my favorite lines.
That's Tolkien for you, he was a professor in the Old Norse tales, he even coined the term 'Northern courage' to describe the courage bordering recklessness in the face of insurmountable odds found in old Norse and old English tales, and he was a huge fan of it.
With that he seized a great horn from Guthlaf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
_ Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! _
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Eomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first eored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was born up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Orome the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young.
=================================
...Theoden was the real Epic one. Rather than a decrepit, old man (when we first met him), or as he is claimed by Saruman "..A lesser son of greater sires," His character arc reaches true fulfillment. ...And yet, even for a moment, he hesitated. For a moment, we were reminded that he was human. Just a human, before he rose to be a hero, a king, and a leader to his people.
*He* was young again. For one last act to go out in a true blaze of glory. R.I.P. Theoden son of Thengel.
What a piece of text - the hairs on my neck rising.
Beautifully put, that pause makes his courage all the greater, for he knows in that moment the price of not giving in to fear and the whispers of sorcerers. That is the price of breaking the spell and he rose to the occasion like a hero of old, like a god of old. I love that theme in Tolkien, the heroes were always lost to a bygone age, being brave now seemed so much harder, so much more futile and always seemingly in the face of much worse odds. It is such a truth and such an inspiration,
Forth! ..and fear no darkness!
You know the guy is a badass when he's not compared to heroes of old in the old wars against Sauron, or even the War of Wrath, but to the Tolkien version of Thor charging into a battle of gods and immortals with power mortals have trouble comprehending at the dawn of the worlds creation.
Made me tear up again reading it.
Tolkiens way with the written word was something else..
My favourite parts of that scene:
Every single second. It's beautiful.
If I had to choose though I'd say:
- The music, since the Rohirrim score is my absolute favourite in the whole trilogy and maybe one of my favourite movie tracks of all time. It simply captures everything: Hope, Sadness, impending doom and valor despite certain death.
- Theoden's part in it, specifically the build-up in his story. Theoden is one of my favourite characters in LotR. He feels like a normal man, plagued by the same emotions and flaws that we all are. Gandalf, Aragorn and so on are these awesome larger-than-life heroes, you just know they will keep fighting and do the right thing in the end. But Theoden is one of the most complex characters. He had to go through a whole character arc. He despaired in the face of death, then was reminded to keep on fighting and never lose hope. Then he had to make the decision to help Gondor, knowing the odds are against them. Then he saw the orc army and knew they had basically no chance to win. But he *chose* to not give up anymore. To give his life to keep his people and the world safe, to focus on his honor and just say "Damn this all, let's just get on with it! Death!"
Theoden *chose* to be a hero.
2:45 I love this part, about how death was a gift from Iluvatar but Melkor had worked hard to corrupt men’s understanding of it so that they feared death. But moments before they charge they chant “death” defiantly in the face of evil before they meet their fate. Very cool.
So true. The enemy often tempts us to fear, dislike, or otherwise reject the gifts we otherwise would’ve received with joy.
As long as we have a calling to live we should joyfully receive that gift, but there are many gifts we tend to reject.
The freedom to walk peacefully a step behind the Joneses is one such gift. Pop culture is a mine field and I’m happy letting my neighbors go first.
This is very viking. Tolkien was a scholar of Norse languages and history. Til Valhall!
This adaptation is so deep because everything was informed by the books, even if not directly translated from them. The Rohirrim chant death because they are embacing holy purpose
Tolkien also said he noticed his writing was deeply influenced by his Catholic faith, so that could also be where his take on death being transformative for humans comes from
Something the video does not point out, though it's implied, is WHY, while the 'death' chant invigorates the Rohirrim, it demoralizes the orcs? It's BECAUSE they are twisted and corrupted by Melkor, through Sauron. Melkor corrupted the Gift of Illuvatar of Men (death) because he could not understand how it was a gift. (This is seen, oddly enough, directly analogically when Melkor varies the second theme of Illuvatar during the creation song of Arda, which is the theme of Men.) The Orcs DO--you could even say SHOULD--fear death.
The Rohan scenes starting with Aragorn announcing the beacon of Amon Din is lit to theodens death is the peak of emotion in the movie for me. Theoden is the perfect example of a normal, yet good, man. He is in my opinion the most human emotion-wise in the series. Rohan shall answer. The charge of the Rohirrim. His final words. All beautiful and differently emotional. Rage, courage, fear, hope, serenity. All of it. Man it works me up thinking about it all combined.
My family used to watch the lord of the rings trilogy every year, and I often didn’t want to watch ROTK because it felt so hopeless and dark, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized it is an incredibly hopeful movie. Every time the characters are brought to the brink of despair something comes along to help them. When Frodo is captured, Sam comes to his rescue, when all hope seems lost in the battle of Gondor, the Rohirrim crest the battlefield to join the fight. The movie does an incredible job of giving the audience the hope they need for the characters right as the characters troubles seem unsermountable, and it really is a credit to how great of an author Tolkien was
You have to give credit to Peter Jackson and his crew. Talk about a daunting task to bring these books to film and this scene shows how great a job they did.
That sounds like a great tradition. When in the year would you watch it? Around Bilbo's and Frodo's birthday?
That hope is crushed again a few minutes latter in the charge of the Oliphants -- and then reborn as the riders find a way to fight and Aragorn arrives.
Precisely. I remember vividly when I saw this movie in theaters, that at the end I concluded its main theme was hope. This is a story of hope and love!
Nobody seems to take any notice of how great Bernard Hill was in these movies, The battle speech before the ride of the Rohirrum delivered by Bernard is one of my very favourite scenes in movies, Bernard was also great as Yosser Hughes in a show called The Boys From The Blackstuff that is quite an old show now but was just great and only Brits would know about that.
Gizza job?
He was also the captain in Titanic.
Seem to remember it to and i'm an Aussie
Best scene, without a doubt. I love how it completes Theoden’s transformation from enslaved and weak-minded to courageous and free, from a follower to a great leader. It shows the pinnacle of one’s freedom from enslavement by those like Grima is not a freedom from danger, but rather to go into it with head held high.
Great point!! I love this!
It’s an interesting contrast with Denethor. The two have almost mirrored paths.
Denethor led the defense of Gondor and much of the west for decades. The movies don’t really show it, but he was a strong leader. But he trusted too much in his own abilities both as leader of Gondor and as a use of the palantir. He refused the counsel of Gandalf, and was deceived by Sauron through the palantir. In the end he fell into despair, abandoned his responsibilities to his people, and took his own life and almost that of his son.
Theoden spent much of his life failing in his duties as king and letting Saruman weaken his kingdom from both inside and out. But he listens to Gandalf, repents, throws off the deceptions of Saruman and defeats his forces in battle. He then leads his riders to Gondor where he dies valiantly fighting to protect his family, his people, and all the free peoples.
There is another scene earlier which shows who Theoden truly is, though: The battle with the warg riders. In that fight, and indeed throughout the evacuation to Helm's Deep, he's also leading firmly from the front, and unlike at the Plains of Pelenor is without his armor and with a much smaller host of men, and still knows and carries out his duty, completely succeeding in protecting the civilians in his care. He didn't need Aragorn to tell him what to do then, he just did it.
I’ve never been able to watch this scene without tearing up. It’s like Rohan is saying “ok, you want to kill the world of men? Fine! Here we are…ALL of us… let’s do this…” as they ride to meet their fair head on. It’s beautiful!
The original "Avengers Assemble"
@@rangerstedfastTo even mention that consumer riddled filth is an insult to true creativity and art. This ain't some "Avengers Assemble" crap. This is the ride of the Rohirim motherfucker.
Oddly enough, part of the speech Theoden gives to inspire his army is transposed from another character. In the novel, Eomer, finding Theoden dead and his sister Eowyn mortally wounded (during a pause in the battle) cries out for "Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!" Peter Jackson and his co-writers must have thought that worked better at the end of Theoden's speech, most of which was given just as the Rohirrim arrive at Pelennor Fields, but no matter. Eomer's anguished cry rallies them, and they are then calling out for death, to mete out death and face it bravely themselves.
@@ianchristian2844exactly. It’s funny how many people fail to grasp that and continue to cast their aspersions. The op isnt. But so many do.
@@ianchristian2844 Exactamente. Jackson's completely different use of the Oathbreakers--bringing them by corsair ships to Pelennor to *fight*--was also brilliant. I wish Tolkien had thought of using them that way. It freaking rocked!
Tolkien knew WWI firsthand. It was way more authentic the way he wrote it.
I remember in the book it explicitly states that the Riders, as they charged into battle, burst into song and “Sang as they Slew”. I realize the scene would have been near impossible to shoot but it gives me shivers whenever I read that passage.
As humans to kill is such an emotionally involved thing to do. To sing when charging into battle to me says that in their very bones they know that what they are doing is necessary and good. Their purpose holds more prominence then their action.
The video where Tolkien himself is reading this scene into a recorder gives me chills like nothing else can.
"To be brave is not to be without fear, but to act in spite of it." I don't know who said that, or where I heard it, but it has stayed with me. And when I see the Charge of the Rohirrim, I remember that line, always.
I was always told it was Mark Twain who described bravery in that way.
“Without fear, there can be no courage.”
'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid? '
'That is the only time a man can be brave,'
"Courage is being scared as hell but saddling up anyway." John Wayne, presumably. I think that sentiment and truth has been spoken in many ways throughout history
"... but to act in spite of it" And in so doing, end it.
I love what you said about fantasy and fiction. We don't want it to reflect our world. We want it to inspire us, lift us, and give us hope that somehow, we can be better than we are. And our future can be brighter than it is now.
Yet today sci-fi/fantasy media are made to resemble modern day.. it annoys me
That's why game of thrones and house of the Dragon are so depressing. Absolutely nothing to aspire too.
"Fantastic writers are the realists of a larger reality" - Ursula LeGuin
This is also the first time in the trilogy that the Rohirrim theme is played in its completion, everything was leading to this moment.
Always a guaranteed watch when someone talks about this scene
This film was one of the greatest cinematic experiences of my life, if not THE greatest 😊
@@jzsbff4801 it doesn't matter if it's CGI or not, it's the impact and everything behind it. Regardless of being CGI, it still stands up today.
Just watched the extended remastered trilogy in the cinema. Was easily the greatest cinema experience I have ever had. 'What do you fear my lady?'. Utter brilliance.
When the crescendo reaches its height and the Rohirrim theme gets onto full swing I get the goosebumbs every time.
I’ve watched the trilogy atleast 50 times and it is such a momentuos occasion every time.
Edit: works without music too, got goosebumbs watching this vid at the moment they start charging.
In the movies, you could surmise Aragorn was coming with the unkillable Dead Army anyway, so they were going to win in the end regardless. In the books it's even more epic, because Aragorn does NOT come with the Dead, he just uses them to free up the South. So literally all would be lost without the Ride of the Rohirrim, which was inspired by the greatest cavalry charge in history, the Winged Hussars at the Battle of Vienna.
Not only that breaking of the Siege of Vienna (that you correctly recognize), Sir, but also by the defeat of Attila and his Huns in the Battle of Catalaunian Plains 451AD at the hands of combined arms of Visigoths and Romans.
The inspiration can vividly be seen in both the contrast of allied armies (one an ancient Empire, but declined from its martial peak, while the other more barbarous and 'younger', yet more vitalistic and ferocious) and some actual events: in both real and fiction one, the king dies and his successor is shouted new king _in situ_ during battle.
Tolkien often used this mix of two or more real historical events or developments in order to create something completely new while also somewhat recognizable for an educated reader. This way he could create a legendarium not only for England (his stated goal), but for whole of the West. By this extension we all are invited by him to reading, imagining more by ourselves and perhaps contributing something more on or beside his work; a way of _subcreation,_ as he himself put it.
In modern times the Australian Light horse charge at Bathseba in Palestine in WW1, was a truly courageous charge again artillery and machine guns.
Polska nie zgniela!
Yes, the 'army of the dead' nonsense really ruined a few things in the film.
Théoden's speech was incredible. It was barely even a speech, it was just his confidence made into noise. His inspiring words and his shouting turned fear into bravery simply by telling them that their spears will break and shields will splinter, then he just fuckin yells and everyone is on board. He told them they're gonna die, but made that comment into something to be proud of rather than something to fear. Comparing to Aragorn's amazing speech at the black gate, I still think Théoden's speech had a greater impact.
This scene always makes me cry of pure catharsis. The whole battle of the Pelennor fields is a masterpiece and I love it much more than the battle of Helm's deep. There is this amazing scene, followed by a similar when they reform the line to meet the mumakils head on, and then the passing of Théoden. That is an other cry worthy scene. I love Théoden so much!
Bro, why does this make me tear up? I don't understand what I'm feeling.
I can attest that Theoden's resolve in shouting 'reform the line... reform the line' was one of the most impactful parts of watching this in the cinema yesterday.
I think Jackson’s choice to add Faramir’s failed charge is important when viewing this scene. It shows the lethality of the orc volleys and really shows just how valiant this charge is.
The parallel is important.
A little like Pickett's charge, although Pickett's charge was doomed (and in my thoughts a mistake), the immense courage shown is awe inspiring-I have stood behind the stone wall where the Union line was, and the feeling was beyond description.
@@crankyyankee7290Yes, or the bayonet charge of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top.
@@davidwilliam9681Or the charge of the MN 1st filling the gap in the line. 300 vs 1,000s charging out of the smoke, out numbered, out gunned and yet halted the enemy's advance and gave their lives to buy five minutes to reform the line. "Colonel, see those colors? Take them."
One of the best moments from the book isn’t in the film. Eomer looks out on the black ships and believes it’s over. There is an excellent passage where he comes to terms with it and raises his sword to defy them. My favorite Tolkien passage.
Stern now was Éomer's mood, and his mind clear again. He let blow the horns to rally all men to his banner that could come thither; for he thought to make a great shield-wall at the last, and stand, and fight there on foot till all fell, and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor, though no man should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark. So he rode to a green hillock and there set his banner, and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind.
"Out of doubt, out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!"
These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed, and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them.
Epic beyond words. What a gift Tolkien had
The death of Boromir and the coronation of Aragorn are two other scene that tears me up.
"I would have followed you, my brother; my captain; my king."😢
"My friends. You bow to no one." 😢
"For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City."
Literally got chills just reading this, and I've read that passage dozens of times. Probably my favorite bit of prose ever.
This scene gives me chills! Just as the lighting of the beacons gives me chills. Howard Shore’s themes are perfect
I've been reading Tolkien since '76 and your brief presentation has brought a new light to this epic episode for me and for that I must be thankful.
0:21 I got chills and a heart rate spike just from hearing that horn
Seeing this rereleased in theaters was the most epic and inspiring scene to ever grace the screen. You could feel the hoofs hitting the ground, pounding as if your heart. It was beautiful and if there was any movie I would watch again for the first time, it would be this.
There were only 60 actual horses w/ riders, but Jackson has said he and his crew were all stunned the first time a charge was filmed. The earth shook under their feet and filled their ears. Only 60.
The great charge of the West against the East at Vienna involved 5,000 horses and riders.
The only critique of this commentary I can mention is Master Samwise failed to mention the courage of the horses as well, the love between each horse and its rider.
@veramae4098 the wings that the hussars wore were said to create a sort of terrifying whistling sound as the wind rushed past
The Ride of the Rohirrim alone justifies seeing ROTK in a theater. I missed an IMAX reshowing of the trilogy in 2021, but I caught a reshowing in 2022.
"I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed." RIP Bernard Hill.
The fact that Tolkien took inspiration from the The Winged Hussars when he created the Rohirrim
and the Battle of Vienna (1683) when he created the Battle for Helms Deep and Pelennor Fields makes it all the more epic
in my eyes at least. 😄
🎵🎶WHEN THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED!!!🎶🎵
I was just about to make the same comment you beat me by 4 days...
Not only that famous siege of Vienna (though the arrival of Théoden's army certainly takes after that), but also the Battle of Catalaunian Plains 451AD, where Huns led by Attila were defeated by Romans led by patrician Aetius and Visigoths led by their king Theodoric. In that battle not only the nature of allied armies matched that on Pelennor fields (one an ancient Empire, but declined from its martial peak, while the other more barbarous and 'younger', yet more vitalistic and ferocious) but real events as well: Theodoric, leading a cavalry charge, fell during the battle and his son Thorismund was shouted new king while the battle still lasted!
Tolkien often used this mix of two or more real historical events or developments in order to create something completely new while also somewhat recognizable for an educated reader. This way he could create a legendarium not only for England (his stated goal), but for whole of the West. By this extension we all are invited by him to reading, imagining more by ourselves and perhaps contributing something more on or beside his work; a way of _subcreation,_ as he himself put it.
No he didn't; if the charge of the Rohirrim is based on any real-world event, it's the Gothic charge at the Battle of Chalons in 451 AD, which defeated Attila's Huns and saved the West. Also the Gothic king died during the charge, much as Theoden did. You have Goths = Rohirrim and Rome = Gondor. Why would Tolkien bother with a trivial battle at the other end of Europe?
I’ve always loved how theoden leveraged death not the death of the enemy but the death of themselves, he turns their fear of death into their driver, death is what pushes them into the battle not victory, they ride for the end of all things
Theoden is my favorite character in LOTR books and movies. He knew before he left to go to Gondor that he had too few men. Yet he went anyway. They arrived at the darkest hour, when needed most. This scene by far the best in the movie and in the book.
Theoden is a great man, because he retained a certain humility.
Hence when he dies and says "i go now to the halls of my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now be ashamed"
not only does this scene stand among the greatest scenes in cinematic history, but your narration and comments stand among the greatest, too.
The Ride of the Rohirrim makes me tear up in all it's forms, book, film and especially J.R.R. Tolkien reading it. The passion in his voice when he reads it is inspiring.
*To this day…with my speakers on FULL BLAST. I STILL get goosebumps and tear up watching this scene. All hope seems lost and even in the face of certain death…these men rode to their destiny! Not to mention the absolutely PERFECT symphony composed by Howard Shore. Truly one of the most amazing scenes in cinematic history, I’m tearing up just thinking about it now.🙏🏼😭*
It's also the horses, horses add an element of bravery and goodness and just epicness that can't be obtained otherwise. Horses combine kindness, beauty and force like no other creature can. The perfect contrast with the evil of Mordor. The whole scene is just stunning. The Rohirrim stand for hope and human resilience, they are not superhuman so recognizable. They show the best of human nature. An example to admire even if its fantasy.
That Horn of Rohan blast ALWAYS sends chills down my spine!!
Plus, Eowyn was destined to fulfil a part of the Prophecy about the Witch-King of Angmar!!
Yes for the firts part of your comment, on could argue about the second part:
She singlehandedly (😉) killed the witchking, yes and that is one of the greatest deads, no discussion about that.
But the prophecy basically was fulfilled by Merry. Iirc it was "not by the hand of men will he fall".
And Merry as a Hobbit stuck his blade into the back of the witchkings knee and made him "fall" on his knees.
He and his blade from the barrow broke the spell and made it possible for someone of mankind to kill him.
@@nirfz I think you're both right. A character falling is often used to describe death in Tolkien's works, and prophecies such as this one are often both vague and literal at the same time. So, "Not by the hand of man will he fall" likely refers to both Merry striking him to his knees and Eowyn killing him. I believe it even says as much in one of the appendixes.
All three of you are right -- but you are also forgetting one of the sources. Tolkien loved him some Shakespeare. In Macbeth, MacB blvs he's invincible in battle, bcs "none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth." Macduff, who had a caesarean origin, was the loophole...
Having read the books well before the movies this was the moment that I looked forward to the most. When I first heard Howard Shore's Rohan motif/theme in The Two Towers, it gave me all sorts of feels. And when this moment came, it did not disappoint.
One disappointing thing about the music here was that it covered the blowing of the horns. But that was soon followed by an outstanding decision about how to handle Rohan's musical theme for this scene. Going by the usual pattern of how a theme takes different forms for different scenes, you'd expect to hear it in this scene in a thunderous bombastic form with blaring brass horns, and it does get there, but, at the beginning of the charge when they just get started moving, it's in its original subdued form as a fiddle solo again. It's a reminder of what they left behind at home to be here helping their neighbors instead, and that this heroism was something they all had to build themselves up to.
Same. And i was glad when they included the horn sound that startled the Witchking.
While i find it a little sad that they didn't include Ghan Buri Ghan and his people who brought them through the woods unseen and around Mordors guard at the road i can easily forgive that for the way they portrait them with the light in their back comming over the crest, the speech and the great acting.
Gives me chills every time I watch the Rohirrim ride out, no matter how many times I've seen it.
To me, there is only one scene in Lord of the Rings that can match this and/or surpass it. That would be Sam's speech about the great stories. That scene is so powerful. You see two hobbits at the end of their rope losing hope, but reflect on the stories of old, and thinking back to the heroes who stood against the darkness. Even though there was no telling of what would happen. Then Sam utters those beautiful words that I quote to myself when I'm in a dark place. " A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stores that stay with you. That means something even if you were too small to understand why."
Yes
Watched this the other day and now I'm sobbing again. I love that scene, especially where they show the ents destroying isengard while Sam is speaking. And the last march of the ends comes just before that scene. Those 3 scenes: the march of the ents, gandalf and eomer returning to helms deep, and sams speech all in succession gets me sobbing every time.
I enjoyed the contrast between this scene and the two earlier ones (a) when Saruman addresses Sauron and discusses the union of the two towers, and (b) when Theoden is musing while putting on his battle armor. Three epic monologues in one movie!
Whether in the book, or in the movie, truly one of the great moments in all of story telling. Great literature shows us the best, and worst, we can be. The greatest theme in The Lord Of The Rings is that each one must stand up and do their part in the fight for good, no matter how hopeless it seems.
In Tolkien's world, there is a specific purpose for men. Elves and even the Valar don't know Illuvitar's will and special purpose he has reserved for the souls of men.
Just for anyone that hasn't read the books yet, no enemy ever enters Minas Tirith. The Witch King steps into the entryway, and is confronted by Gandalf upon Shadowfax. Gandalf and the Witch King do not have any kind of combat in the books. They exchange words, then the horn of Gondor sounds and the Witch King flees from Gandalf. Gandalf is a Maiar, he would stomp the Witch King in an actual fight.
This scene makes me, a grown man, cry every time. This and the sacrifice of Boromir are my favorite scenes in the trilogy.
I get chills when the music swells and the overhead shot reveals the rising sunlight and the entire host of the Rohirrim.
It's so hard to convey how epic this was to see in theaters in 2003, but like other commentators, I still tear up every time.
I have to admit that I almost cried near the end of this video. It's such a powerful scene and has such potent symbolism. I firmly agree with you that this is the absolute apex of cinnematic history in terms of inspiring moments and will go down as a classic for the ages. I've never seen anything that hits the same way since and with the state of modern Hollywood I never will again, but thats fine because we have this perfect transcendent moment that perfectly captures and enhances the original literary work. This is Tolkien at its finest.
i've watched the return of the king half a dozen times or so over the last 20 years and whether as a nerdy kid back then or as a grizzled old cynic now, i could never keep myself from sweating from the eyes to the ride of the rohirrim.
This is perhaps the greatest scene of its kind -- but it is a member of a small, elite club, not a singleton on its own. That said, it still sends a shiver down my spine, and I can easily watch it multiple times in a row without losing my sense of awe and amazement.
Excellent review, beautifully written. Captures the spirit, the bravery, the fear and triumph of the whole episode.
Dude, your analysis of this scene is absolutely epic
Theoden’s grunt / muffled “hyah” to his horse before he calls out “Take your Èored down the left flank” is beyond perfection. Just a moment of us focusing on Theoden making the decision to shove away personal fear in order to be the king he needs to be for the fate of man. And then in an instant he is just that 👌
As a life long Tolkien-file it was with great joy and amazement to witness the ride of the Rohirrim into battle. The digital expertise of Jacksons recreation of the battle of Palenor field brought to visual life what Tolkien had intended. And that wasn't the only time in the movie. Nearly the entire movie was replete with the recreation of his books. Peter Jackson, thank you for your vision and boundless energy; it is a seminal work.
One of the only scenes I would rank up this in cinematic history is the "La Marseillaise" scene from Casablanca, and in its own way it pulls at the same emotions as the Ride of the Rohirrim.
great scene also.
Agreed. Especially as many of the actors in that scene were actual refugees from occupied France.
Yes, when Victor Lazlo strides up to the band , I stand up every time
For anyone like me who had never read the books before seeing the films...this moment, when all hope seemed lost, two levels of Minas Tirith on fire, the strength of Men failing, Gandalf looking up in fear at the faceless depth of the Witch-King...sharply interrupted by the clear, uplifting blare of a horn, the light of the sun breaking at the edges of the clouds, and a horizon of horse and man cresting the hill...it brought more than hope; it was salvation. I felt what I imagine the defenders of Minas Tirith felt exponentially more. You do not exaggerate by claiming this as the greatest moment in cinematic history, and I appreciate the context you being to this moment. Excellent video! Good enough to compel me to subscribe. 😉
It's near impossible to put into words how this scene makes me feel. But you, sir, managed to do it. Thank you.
You have perfectly summarized this scene, and the reasons it is so meaningful and powerful. I watch this scene a lot, precisely because it is inspiring in the face of overwhelming odds. Thanks.
This is as good as it gets in story telling. I legitimately can’t think of a better scene. I was getting emotional just watching your breakdown 😂
I agree, the greatest scene in movie history. And 20 years later still holds strong. Even though his words are few, Hill delivers one of the greatest and most inspiring lines ever in a movie. It’s a beautiful scene.
This scene defines epic. It's one of the two in the movie (perhaps even the whole trilogy) that will always captivate me and have me hold my breath ; the other on being that moment toward the end when Frodo and Sam have both collapsed from exhaustion at the foot of Mount Doom and Frodo attempts to gather whatever strength he has left to keep crawling forward, highlighted by a simple yet beautiful score.
You've probably already seen it, but if you haven't, watch How Howard Shore Makes Us Care by ListeningIn. Beautiful explanation of some of the key moments of LotR's score.
Something I've always loved about this scene that you touched on a little bit is the sounds of it all. The chanting of Orc, the cheers of 'death', the thundours sound of horn and hoof, and the sound of the clash where all glory is removed and the devastating sounds of pain and death are all we hear. This scene offers so much.
Do what you have to, not what you want. Do the right thing, not the smart thing. It was the greatest lesson in my life and i think it was this scene that taught me that.
I first read LOTR in college in the early 70's. On a slow Saturday (homework done, no home ball game to attend) I had plenty of time to read. When I got to the charge of the Rohirrim, I could not put the book down. I had chills reading that part. To their credit the filmmakers captured that feeling and put on screen what I had only seen in my imagination.
Perfectly explained.. It's indeed one I always get shivers from, also the one and only time where I feel the reinforcements of the 'good side' is just epic, complete in its essence, beauty and virtues and inspiring on so many fronts. Thank you for this beautiful video!
It's such a beautiful scene because it embodies the spirit of men. To face a certain death head on to try to protect the things you love. It's in all men, this primal feeling of protecting it fills you with intense emotion and you feel invicible. This scene is a masterclass.
your description, voice and delivery is as epic as the battle before us
This hit me in the feels when I saw this in theaters for the first time at 10 years old. And it still does every time since
"And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City." An amazing scene of cinema, from the greatest work of literature of the 20th century.
And here i thought i couldn't apreciate this scene even more.
Really, i nearly teared up...
Totally Agree! From the first time I read of this scene in the Return of the King book, I envisioned it to be one of the most glorious cavalry charges in verse or history. I am forever grateful to Peter Jackson, the actors, and Howard Shore for creating THE MOST EPIC scene in literary, movie, and actual history! I have watched this charge two to three dozen times ... and it still gives me goosebumps. I love it!
Genuinely made me *more* emotional than I usually get with this scene, which I didn't think was possible. You lent so much power and meaning to what was happening beyond the already brain-melting epicness. As a life-long fan of LOTR, bravo.
Well done with the narration.. a perfect scene. It is a good day to die. So like being a Viking There will never be a moment like this in cinema ever again.
7:00 I think the only thing to truly compete with this is Aragorns "for Frodo" before running towards the black gate not even caring if someone is following him ... and the first to follow him being Merry and Pippin
The first time I watched this in the cinema, when the film was brand new and I didn't know what I was in for, I remember goosebumps at first. I mean ... I had read the books several times. I knew it was coming. I KNEW it would happen, but when Gandalf's staff bursts, and the Nazgul is so close to him there seems to be no hope, I did have that one ... tiny little moment of "They're not coming. They're not going to make it". I knew it wasn't like that, of course, but that split second of doubt was there, anyway.
And then the horn sounded, and I felt this overwhelming, palpable sense of deep, deep relief.
I'm a historian ... I've got a master's degree in it. I've read so many descriptions of great charges, so many histories of battles over the years that honestly, I think most people would be staggered by it. At the time the movie came out, I was at university, studying for this degree, and I was deeply engrossed in stacks of books so high you couldn't see me behind them when I got to work. I thought I had a good sense ... like a gut feeling ... of what a massed cavalry charge would be like. I thought I understood. I thought I could see it for my mind's eye, up until that point. I knew of the charge at the gates of Vienna, I knew of the charges in so many battles during the Wars of the Roses, the Crusades, the Hunnic invasions, the Mongol Storm, the armies of Temur Lenk, the war of Scottish Independence, the Thirty Year's War, the charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo, Ney's insanely brave and completely futile countercharge against the allied squares at the same battle, Alexander's charge through the Persian lines towards Darius at Gaugamela ... all of this and more, and I really, really thought I KNEW what this would have looked like.
And then the Rohirrim arrived. And I understood that I had no idea what the force of thousands of horses at a full gallop would be like. How UTTERLY terrifying it would be to face it down, even if you were armed with a long spear or a pike. I actually understood why the orcs panicked. It would've been enough to make practically anyone lose their nerve. In truth, to this day, I do not fully understand how anyone in history has had the courage to face down something that absolutely terrifying.
The way the charge naturally forms into a wedge, following Theoden. The fact that the majority of the kills made, at least at first, are not made by swords, axes, spears or lances, but simply by the massive impact of a nearly five hundred kilos of warhorse crashing into you at a gallop. It is astonishing, it's terrifying, it's absolutely GORGEOUS ... it's terrifying.
I wept when I saw it the first time. I wept because it was so incredibly well portrayed. I have a deep-seated aversion to "historic movies" because for some bizarre reason, every movie-maker in the world seems to think that history is boring and needs to be improved upon and changed before it will make a good film. I hate how they massacre everything and tell fantasy stories under the guise of "creative license", while portraying it as truth.
Thereby making my job as a historian a lot harder, because way, way too many people DO NOT possess the critical thinking-skills to understand that what they see in monstrosities like "Gladiator" or, gods help it, "King Arthur" (which starts with the words "this is the true story", only to proceed into complete lala-land), is pure fiction with absolutely zero basis in reality.
And yet, there I was, watching a fantasy epic, and the director got it right.
It's never been topped. I sincerely doubt it ever will be. Every single aspect of this scene is as close to real magic as I think we'll ever get on the silver screen.
Bernard Hill passed away only a scant few days ago.
He played many, many outstanding parts in his time, but I think his career will be forever defined by Theoden, and with a scene like this, ending in the heartbreak of his death ... I don't know if an actor can gain greater glory than that. I doubt it.
I watch this scene at least a few times every year, and to this day, it always brings a lump to my throat and it always makes me weep.
Because they got it right.
Westu Theodén Hál.
Thank you Sir for making time and beautifully expressing your thoughts in words.
Just here to add my tears to the ever growing pool. I saw Return of the King in theaters on my 13th birthday and it broke my brain. This scene was the first time I cried at a movie in theaters. So good.
This video is beautifully written and read. Glad I clicked. Thank you.
On top of all this that is mentioned, it also shows how deep the bond between horse and rider runs, that they would both trust each other enough to charge into battle and danger and death. I am a horse person and because I know this bond on top of everything else you just mentioned, I bawl my eyes out every. single. time.
I agree 1000% I watched hundreds of movies over the years few pump me up or excite me as much as this, but even then they still don't match the sheer scale and beauty of this scene and the music is the very definition of epic, it never fails to given me chills no matter how many times I re-watch this scene, especially when the Rohirrim shout "DEATH!" Goosebumps ever time
Every time I hear that shout, it makes me want to join in the shout. And the charge always seems to put the fury of battle in me. It was such a powerful and amazing scene and honestly my favorite scene of the whole movie, even over the last stand at the black gate.
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What a wonderful analysis of a very powerful scene. Thanks for sharing!
I love Theoden. He does what he knows is right, and what he needs to do, and he's willing to accept that this may cost him his life, and that it is better to die than to be alive with the compromised ethos.
When you can here the soundtrack in your head everytime...a scene for the ages!
Such a great philosophical reflection and review of one the greatest scenes in cinematic history and probably my favorite scene of all time. I've watched it so many times and it has never lost it's power to me. The line "The Rohirrim will ride...Into the end of all things" just invokes so much emotion in me.
Many other movies have similar scenes but none seem to have had the same power to me. As an example, the Avengers Assemble at the final battle in End Game was great, but it just doesn't have the same effect on me. They were all individual super beings, where the Rohirrim, while battle hardened and brave, are but men. Death has a more profound effect and consequence for them. This scene is so powerful because of everything that was said in this video. Seriously, well done.
Finding this video after Bernard Hill's death makes it that much more intense. Finding myself crying through the whole video. Wow! His face needs no words. He was an incredible actor in every sense of the word.
this scene gives me goosebumbs every time
Even after watching it over 50 times I still get chills it’s such a powerful scene